How to Get Free Backlinks That Actually Work (And Avoid the $10 Trap)

Backlinks are SEO gold—but only if they’re legit. And yet, almost every beginner falls for the same trap: the “500 backlinks for $10” deal. I get it—it’s tempting. The offer seems like it would quickly get you to the top search results on Google. But I’ve seen what happens next: When you buy cheap backlinks you will see a temporary traffic increase for one or two weeks before experiencing a dramatic drop in traffic.

The low-cost packages distribute your links across spam-filled blogs, PBNs, and fake directories that exist only to exchange backlinks.

Google’s not stupid—it’s built to detect this kind of manipulation. And when it does? Your rankings tank, and your site gets flagged for untrustworthy link building.

Once your rankings plummet and your site becomes marked for illegitimate link building you face a double whammy because the spammy links take weeks or months to index which means the damage doesn’t happen right away and the problems appear long after you think everything is fine. One of our own clients, before coming to us, tried one of those Fiverr specials. Their rankings shot up. Then plummeted. It took us months to disavow the toxic links and start rebuilding trust. The site’s recovering now, but it still carries scars in Google’s eyes.

Two Proven Ways to Earn Free Backlinks Without Risking Penalties

So let’s talk about how to actually build backlinks—the slow, reliable way that works.

1. Local and Niche Directories – Boring but Brilliant

What It Is: Submitting your website to reputable online directories—think Yell, FreeIndex, or niche-specific ones like Checkatrade or TrustATrader.

Why It Works: Submitting your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) across multiple trustworthy platforms tells Google that you’re a real business. Even though it feels like a chore, it builds location-based authority and improves your local SEO. Moz’s Local SEO guide backs this—consistent citations boost local rankings. It’s how we got a Morley restaurant into Google’s Map Pack in a month.

How to Do It:

• Start with a Google search for
  “small business directories”
  or
  “industry + directory” (such as "marketing agency + directory")
• Submit your business information—exactly the same each time.  Inconsistent NAP kills trust, per Google’s own guidelines.  
• Use tools like BrightLocal to audit your listings and spot inconsistencies.

Real Example: For one of our clients—a local restaurant in Morley—we only created a few directory listings at first. No ads, no fancy campaigns. Within a month, they started showing up in Google’s map pack and got their first bookings from search.

Pro Tip: Aim for quality over quantity. A small selection of 10–20 targeted directories delivers greater value than 100 random listings.

2. Guest Posts – Your Voice, Your Link

What It Is: Writing valuable articles for blogs or websites in your niche, with your name and a backlink included.

Why It Works: It builds both authority and trust. Unlike paid placements where some ghostwriter throws your link into a generic post (and takes the credit and, most importantly, money), guest posting lets you be the expert.

How to Do It:

• Search for opportunities using:
  “write for us” + your niche
  e.g. “write for us” + “fitness” or “eCommerce” or “home improvement”

• Review the site’s content and check that it’s legit—watch out for pop-up spam and outdated content.
• Use MozBar or Ahrefs Free Tools to check domain authority and traffic.
• Pitch useful, original content. Not salesy fluff.
• Make sure they offer author bios—and that yours includes your name and links to your site. Search Engine Journal says this ties into E-E-A-T—Google’s metric for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust. Your bio (e.g., “Jane Doe, 7 years in SEO”) proves you’re the real deal.

Real Example: We helped one of our clients, a locksmith, write a short guest post with practical tips on home security. The article was well-received and even landed him new clients.

Pro Tip: Never send the same article to multiple sites. If one rejects it, wait, and pitch it to another. Always check if they accept unpublished content only.

Why Bother With All This?

Because it works. We’ve pulled clients out of total obscurity using nothing but directories and guest posting. And unlike that $10 backlink bomb, these links won’t come back to haunt you.

If you’re serious about SEO—especially local or eCommerce—this is how you start. It’s not sexy. It’s not instant. But it builds real authority, trust, and visibility.

And if you’re building authority, don’t forget about your name. These days, Google cares who wrote the content. It’s called E-E-A-T—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust. Your website earns credibility when your name appears on helpful articles from legitimate sites.

What Happens After You Publish a Guest Post

Once your guest post goes live, don’t expect instant magic. It takes time for Google to index the article and assess its value. Here's what happens behind the scenes:

• Indexing Lag: Some posts get indexed in hours, others in weeks. It depends on the site’s crawl frequency.
• Impact Evaluation: Google doesn’t just look at your backlink—it looks at the context, site reputation, and whether the content actually helps users or exists purely for SEO purposes.
• Trust Signals: If the site you wrote for is reputable, gets traffic, and publishes useful content, your backlink will help. If not, it might get ignored—or worse, harm your authority.

And once your name starts appearing on the web, people will notice. It’s not always a good thing.

Many of our clients, after successfully publishing a guest post, suddenly started receiving spammy emails like:
"Hello dear, we offer backlinks on high DA sites, only $10 per link!"

Whether it’s $5 or $500, we always give the same advice: don’t do it. It is well against Google policies. When you don’t know where your links are going, you’re not in control of your reputation. Stay selective and strategic—it pays off in the long run.

Start building smart. Skip the schemes. Get seen for the right reasons.